May 19, 2009

TWD: Mango Bread French Toast "an Ting an Ting"

My mother hails from the gorgeous Island of Trinidad. You may know the country by its full moniker: Trinidad and Tobago. She moved here from Port of Spain when she was 13 years old, but still kept her Trinidadian heritage strong by celebrating Carnival (the biggest in the world - even bigger than Brazil), listening to reggae and soca music, and eating national dishes such as callaloo (a thick soup made of okra spices, crab, and the like), roti (like a trinidadian naan bread with many variations to eat with things like curried goat and chickpeas) or doubles (fried flatbreads filled with curried chickpeas).

So beautiful.

Although her accent is not as strong as it was when she first moved to America (or so I hear), a few things will bring it out faster than ever: when in conversation with a fellow "Trini", when telling stories of Trinidad and her youth, when Caribbean music is floating in the air, or when my brother or I make her really, really angry.

And although they speak English, Trinidadian's definitely have their own language. You may here two Trinis in a conversation about the whereabouts of an acquaintance:

"Ah hyar dey living dong by dey so." -- It is my understanding that they are residing down there.

Or wanting to spend a relaxing day together:

"We been limin de whole deh! Me eh see she again, she leave de fete long time." -- We have been spending the whole day together, but she departed from the soiree a long time ago.

Or hear someone sigh and push someone out of the way and say:

"Yuh fadduh was a glassmakah, gyal?" -- Excuse me, ma'am, but kindly step aside, as you are blocking my view.

Oh my friends, you may be asking yourself, "Is that even English?"

Yes, it is. Indeed it is. But learning the Trini slang is a lesson that cannot be taught in one blog post, dear readers.

That takes a lifetime.

You can lime (hang out) wit ya pahtnah (friend) and whine (dance) yah bamsie (butt) to the pan (steel band, which was originated in Trinidad) but watch what ya say, 'cause that Macko (gossip) is ryal (real) schtupidee (stupid) and has nothing better to do than to tittyvay (waste time and stir up trouble) and hambug (bother) you and the only way to stop her is to give her a ryal bad eye (look of anger) and cuff (hit) she in she mowt (mouth).

Did you follow that?

The whole point of that story is that I grew up loving Caribbean fruits like Mango, but many of my friends were never exposed to the wonders of this luscious fruit. And although Mango Bread is not necessarily a Trinidadian dish, I have never tasted a more succulent mango than I did when I was in Trinidad. And when I told my mother about Dorie's Mango Bread, chosen by Kelly of Baking with Boys (click for recipe), she squealed with delight.

"Oooooooh, I LOVE Mango bread!"

And the lucky woman is going back to Trinidad - or "home", as she and all "Yankees" (in Trini speak, a Trinidadian who has moved to the United States) call it - for two weeks next week. She then muttered dreamily about eating those succulent mangos on the beaches of Trinidad and Tobago.

But I have the advantage, because this Mango bread is AMAZING (amazing). Upon taking my first bite, I went cokee-eye (cross-eyed), fuh troot (for truth, for real). Deliciously spiced. Amazingly moist. Addictive.

I turned it into French Toast, or, as I will call this from now on, "Trini Toast" by dipping the bread in a mixture of egg, nutmeg, cinnamon, milk and ginger and topping it with a syrup made of diced mango, syrup, and the same spices (I am sorry, I did not measure the recipe).

Umm... let me just say that if you have any leftover mango bread, MAKE THIS TRINI TOAST NOW!

WOWOWOWOWOWOOWOWOWOW.

Without a doubt, this is one of my Top 5 Dorie recipes ever. I have just made Dorie an honorary citizen of Trinidad and Tobago (I can totally do it).

Oh, and if a Trini ever says that they are doing something "jus now" (just now), in Trini time, that could be days. So if I tell you I am bringing you a slice of this mango bread, "jus now", don't expect any mango bread. Because I'm not sharing.

Go check out the rest of this Mango Bread on TWD "NOW FUH NOW" (this instant!)

awesome twist to french toast, I love mangoes too it's already bringing me back to the Caribbeans! (I'm Puerto Rican and I know exactly what you mean when the islands have their own "english language" lol)

What a great story! The best mangoes, in my opinion, seem to stay close to home, wherever that is. The Mexican mangoes that are imported taste terrible, but when you get them in Mexico, they're good. I'm with you on this bread - it was fantastic and I'll be making it again.

What a great post...I loved every single word and it was such fun to hear about your mother, etc. What a heritage you have. The French Toast (Trini Toast) looks excellent...especially with that little draping of mango on the top. I need to make the bread again so I can try this!